The Irish Field Podcasts

Ahead of BoyleSports Irish Grand National weekend at Fairyhouse, Grade 1-winning trainer Fergal O’Brien joins The Racing Edge team to discuss his hopes of a top-level success in Sunday’s WillowWarm Gold Cup with stable star Sixmilebridge. The Co Tipperary native, who plies his trade in Britain, bypassed the Cheltenham Festival with his unbeaten chaser and could be set for quite the homecoming if the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase winner can provide him with a first success in Ireland for more than a decade. O’Brien also weighs in on the recent cancellation of Cheltenham fixtures due to drainage work and shares his thoughts on the resurgence of British National Hunt racing. The Irish Field’s Mark Costello and Mark Boylan discuss the week’s talking points in racing and look ahead to the main events at Fairyhouse, including their names to note for the Irish National. Mark Costello visited the Curragh on Sunday for Aidan O’Brien’s gallops morning and shares his list of Ballydoyle dark horses. Listeners of The Racing Edge Podcast have the chance to win a The Irish Field-branded Aquatec gilet by completing a survey on their feedback to the podcast series. To complete the short survey and be in with a chance to win the gilet, click here - https://form.jotform.com/260344488360358

In this episode of Bloodlines, Sweat and Tears, the Irish Horse Breeding podcast from Irish Country Living and The Irish Field, host Helen Sharp explores the enduring influence of Thoroughbred blood on Irish sport horse breeding.Long valued for adding stamina, sharpness and athletic refinement, the Thoroughbred has helped shape the success of the modern Irish Sport Horse. But as breeding trends evolve, is that influence changing—and what does it mean for the future?Helen is joined by an expert panel including Dr Alison Corbally, Dr Andrea Ryan, and Chris Ryan of Scarteen House. Together, they discuss the history, practical considerations, and future role of Thoroughbred blood in Irish Sport Horse breeding.A must-listen for breeders, producers and anyone passionate about the evolution of the Irish sport horse, this episode asks a key question: does the next generation still need that famous Thoroughbred edge? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below!

How do you turn a 25,000gns horse-in-training purchase, rated 75, into a dual listed winner who could yet take on Constitution Hill? On this week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast, Kevin Blake tells the story behind Beset, the winner of Naas’ joint-feature on Sunday. The leading pundit, who wears many hats as a horseman, owner-breeder and race planner, is involved in the partnership behind one of the most improved mares in training. Ahead of Saturday’s Dubai World Cup night, he also gives an update on Joseph O’Brien’s hopes of a winner at Meydan with Al Riffa and Sons And Lovers. The Racing Edge team review the main action from the weekend in Ireland, and discuss a number of talking points from the latest edition of The Irish Field.

The Irish Field team share their final thoughts on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival.

Jump jockey John Shinnick talks about the joy of riding out his claim, while Mark Boylan reports from Dubai where many racing professionals were stranded following the aerial attacks on Iran

The recently-turned professional jump jockey joins Mark Costello, Anne Marie Duff and Amy Lynam to discuss the racing week.

After seeing his star novice hurdler Heads Up bounce back with a listed victory at Punchestown on Sunday, Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer John McConnell joins The Racing Edge podcast this week to discuss his Cotswolds contender and a host of other topics. Joined by Mark Boylan and Anne Marie Duff from The Irish Field, the panel weigh up whether Jonbon can make it Grade 1 win number 13 in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, as well as counting down to Constitution Hill’s much-talked-out flat debut at Southwell on Friday. Each of the team nominate an Aintree horse to keep an eye on, ahead of this week’s Randox Grand National weights reveal. With a lack of betting pattern monitoring services were highlighted in the aftermath of the recent Redwood Queen case involving Philip and Charles Byrnes, John and Mark look at the current state of play regarding the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board’s bet-tracking operations, as highlighted in The Irish Field this week by columnist Tony Keenan.  Mark and Anne Marie were on The Jockey Club’s Cheltenham press tour around Ireland last week and report some nuggets from their mornings with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. All three discuss whether Britain can put it up to Ireland in the Prestbury Cup this year, following no outright win for the host team in the competition since 2015.

Gowran Park manager Eddie Scally joins Mark Costello, Anne Marie Duff and Amy Lynam to discuss the racing week.